Heart & Cardiology/LAHB

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Expert: doctort@cardiachealth.org - 10/9/2013

QuestionHello,

One year ago I developed left anterior hemiblock. My cardiologist says it is benign, buut couldn't really say what caused it. Do you have an idea why young, healthy people may develop LAHB? Is it really just a benign variant that some people get or is there something more sinister causing it (like blood pressure).

Are there any dangers I should be aware of with this diagnosis?

I am 31, female, normal BP (but some white coat hypertension) and normal echo and stress test results. I have taken Zoloft for 12 years for severe anxiety/panic disorder.

Thanks for any advice!
Lin

AnswerHi Linda,
Sometimes either the right or the left bundle branch conducts the electrical impulse more slowly than normal, but is not completely blocked. When this occurs, on the side of the slow conduction, the electrical impulse arrives in the ventricle slightly later than normal. As a result, the QRS complex is slightly wider than normal, but not as wide as it would be with a complete BBB. This slight widening of the QRS is often called incomplete BBB. (Another name for it is an “intraventricular conduction defect," or an IVCD.)

Incomplete bundle branch block sometimes indicates underlying heart disease. But, especially when it occurs on the right side (i.e., incomplete RBBB,) it often has no significance at all. So in general, incomplete bundle branch block should trigger a non-invasive search for underlying heart disease. If none is found, no further tests or treatment are needed.